People interested in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine have many options for treatment.
At my practice, I see patients everyday that are suffering from common health complaints like headaches, joint pain, insomnia, and menstrual irregularities.
Each of these patients is unique but I often hear them all voice a similar underlying issue; dealing with daily stress has become difficult and may be affecting their quality of life.
Acupuncture patients feel great leaving the treatment and depending on their health and wellness path, experience positive effects that may last for several days to a week at a time.
However, most rarely get a sustained period of time to heal and the effects of the acupuncture treatment wear off.
So how can you deal with daily stress and anxiety more effectively, without seeing the acupuncturist every day? The answer is Acupressure! Acupressure is a treatment technique that relies on the stimulation of acupuncture points by applying pressure with the fingertips, knuckles or another implement that does not puncture the skin.
I've seen videos where some practitioners use an old tree root to apply pressure to acupuncture points and meridians in the body.
Another related form of treatment I have training in is a style of non-insertive needling called shakuju that utilizes a blunt needle to put a gentle pressure on an acupuncture point.
Now that we know what acupressure is, how can you treat yourself and your friends or family? Typically, a finger without a long nail or the knuckle of the index finger is utilized to provide pressure.
On points located over the fingers and toes, where there may not be enough flesh, gentle pressure using a fingernail can be used.
Using the finger, knuckle or nail, press firmly on the point while rotating in a tight circle.
The guideline for providing pressure is to just apply enough pressure to get results without causing any undue discomfort.
More often than not, points that need to be treated may be tender or sensitive to the touch, so some feedback from the patient is always welcome.
The acupressure massage should feel strong but not painful.
The general sensation you are hoping to elicit in the patient is one of an achy soreness or tightness in the area.
If the patient feels neither of these, increase your pressure slightly until they do.
Treatment time is determined by the patient's comfort level or by a decrease in the severity or nature of the symptoms.
This may be anywhere from thirty seconds to twenty minutes with periodic interruptions of the pressure at one minute intervals.
Often there are a series of acupressure points indicated for use in alleviating particular symptoms so a one minute sequential cycle of massage works well.
But which acupuncture points are best to use for stress relief? Well, there are over 360 described traditional acupuncture points on the body and countless others recognized and utilized by acupuncturists in their own practices.
It would obviously be impossible to review each one here.
That's what the three year Masters degree in Acupuncture is for.
But I can give some simple points you can use to help combat stress and relax the body.
A relaxed and stress free system functions better and is more equipped to deal with those little hiccups in life.
Each point is given with a meridian name and a number.
This is simply a way that acupuncturists classify the points.
Further descriptions of the points, their location and functions can be found online.
Large Intestine (LI) 4: On the top of the hand, locate the muscle between the thumb and index finger.
Putting gentle pressure on the muscle or the area along the index finger bone, find a tender spot that produces a nice ache with gentle pressure.
This point is great at unlocking the channels and ensuring a smooth flow of Qi between the upper and lower body.
It is also a key point in treating any type of health complaint localized in the head like sinusitis, headache, cold or flu, and ear or eye pain.
Because it is such a powerful point, it is recommended NOT to use it on pregnant patients unless they are past their due date or in difficult labor.
Pericardium (PC) 6: Using three fingers, place them on the inner part of the forearm up against the wrist crease.
At the edge of the fingers, about 2 inches from the wrist crease, against a large tendon running down the center of the arm, feel for a tender spot or a slight depression.
This point is a key point for opening the chest, calming the Mind, and harmonizing the Stomach, which explains its use as a point to treat nausea.
It is often the location where cruise ship vacationers wear the little elastic bands that put pressure on the point.
Stomach (ST) 36: Using four fingers, place them along the lower edge of the patella or kneecap.
With the leg slightly bent, find this point on the outer leg about an inch from the tibia or shinbone.
When you flex the foot, this point is found in the tibialis anterior muscle of the lower leg.
This point is excellent for boosting the Qi and Blood to battle fatigue, strengthening the immune system, and treating all sorts of digestive complaints.
An ancient adage stated that daily stimulation of this point would allow you to remain healthy into old age.
Spleen (SP) 6: Using four fingers, place them above the border of the ankle bone on the inner leg.
Pressing gently in the area above the border of the fingers, a tender spot should be located along the edge of the tibia or shinbone.
Another very powerful point, it is excellent for strengthening the digestive system, harmonizing and detoxing the Liver, calming the Mind, and treating body pain.
Similar to LI 4 in its strength, it is NOT recommended for use on pregnant patients unless they are past their due date or in difficult labor.
Liver (LV) 3: On the top of the foot, in a tender spot between the big and second toe, close to where the metatarsals join.
This is usually a fairly reactive point and gentle pressure will reveal a strong ache at this point.
This point is great for bringing our energy down, relaxing the Mind, and promoting the smooth circulation of Qi through the body.
When you feel nervous, anxious or too much "in your own head", a quick massage of this point can help calm you and center your energy.
So you may have noticed that these points are on the upper and lower extremities making them easy to treat and providing you with a nice sequence.
I usually treat in a clockwise manner moving from one hand to the feet and back to the other hand.
The patient often finds it so relaxing they'll drift off to sleep during treatment.
Good luck and many happy acupressure treatments!